Week 3 Question

Although I do believe that economics played a role in the slave trade, I do not see it as the main reason as to why it occurred for how long it did. Of course it was in the favor of both colonists and the African communities that sold its people. The colonists were gaining physical labor and African leaders were making a profit that could benefit the poor areas in which they lived. However, I do not think that this was the main reason as to why slavery flourished. I believe that slavery was mainly based on racism and the overpowering of one race over another. The colonists did not want to understand or accept the religious and cultural values of the Africans and they didn't feel like they had to. They had something that made them have leverage over the Africans... money. From the beginning they categorized and dehumanized the Africans based on the color the of their skin. So yes, I do think that economics played into slavery but I do not think that it is the main reason that slavery lasted as long as it did.

-Sarah Pergine